BRITS put off by the uncomfortable and expensive long-haul flights to the Maldives might have a solution much closer to home.
Just three hours from the UK, Maldives-style overwater bungalows can be found – and they can be booked from as little as £8 a day.
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The overwater sunloungers for less than a tenner are found at a sandy beach in Albania, rather than the middle of the Indian Ocean.
Albania might not be the first place in mind for Brits when considering a holiday destination, but its Riviera has won fans due to its unexpectedly beautiful beaches and short flight times.
The incredible Maldives-style beach in question is the Pema E Thatë, a private beach that has access to the country’s amazing blue waters.
Flights to Albania aren’t just quicker than flying to the Maldives, they are also quicker than to the Canaries, as it takes just three hours to fly from the UK.
Direct flights are usually cheap, starting from around £60 return.
And to make it even better, everything it’s cheap when you are there – for instance, a glass of wine will set you back £1.70, and pints cost just £1.10.
On the Pema E Thatë beach are huts you can rent for the day for as little as 1,000 LEK (£8.06).
Each hut has two pillows, two mats and a net hammock overlooking the water, just like the overwater villas in the Maldives.
There is even a restaurant, bar, promenade and sandy beach with sun loungers.
From the beach, you can even see the Greek island of Corfu.
There are direct ferries to Corfu from Sarande if you fancy visiting the island too.
Traveller Brittany tried the Albanian bungalows out for herself in 2021 and said the huts were exactly like “Bora Bora or the Maldives”.
Sharing her experience on YouTube, she said that while she paid $10 for the day, you could split this between a group, so she ended up paying just $2.50 with her other three friends.
If you fancy a trip to the Albanian Riviera, there are several other beaches to try.
The northernmost part of the Riviera is Vlorë, which most people will visit before heading down the coast, although it does have its beaches.
There are hundreds of properties to rent in Vlorë, and rooms start from just £20 per night – perfect for a budget-friendly holiday.
Further south of the coastline is Dhërmi – one of the largest and most famous beaches, so you won’t struggle to find a spot.
And in the southern part of the Riviera is Ksamil.
If you’d rather stay in this area, rooms are slightly more expensive, starting from £32 per night.
According to Skyscanner, bookings to Albania are up 96 per cent compared to 2019, and this is expected to continue to rise.
And Tirana, the capital of Albania, topped the list of cheapest cities in 2021.
Read more on the Scottish Sun
If you’d rather go on a long-haul holiday, we found the Caribbean holiday hotspot with Blue Flag beaches, £2.40 frozen cocktails and amazing nightlife.
Or, for somewhere closer to home, we’ve also found the Spanish resort with live DJ pool sessions and famous celebs, with flights for just £21.
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